Device for pushing sheets from mechanical catchers for rolling mills



Oct. 23, 1934. w J W Y 1,978,342

DEVICE FOR PUSHING SHEETS FROM MECHANICAL CATCHERS FOR ROLLING M ILLS Filed Jan. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 23, 1934. w J CROWLEY 1,978,342

DEVlCE FOR PUSHING SHEETS FROM MECHANICAL CATGHERS FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed Jan. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES DEVICE FOR PUSHING SHEETS FROM MECHANICAL CATCHERS FOR ROLLING,

MILLS William John Crowley, Glaymont, Del.

Application January 9,

Claims.

bars from mechanical catchers of the character disclosed and described in the copending United States application of William J. Crowley, bearing L0 Ser. No. 555,572, filed August 6, 1931.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a sheet pushing device of the character set forth which may be moved relatively with respect to a sheet carrier when the latter is at a position over the upper roll of a rolling mill to push the sheet carried thereby over said upper roll so that it may be placed in position to again pass between the rolls of the mill in the reducing process. Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet pushing device of the character set forth having novel means operable both to advance and return the device to its original position after pushing a sheet from the carrier, to be in position to push a sheet from the next succeeding carrier or peel when the latter is at a similar position. over the upper roll.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet pushing device of the general character described whichmay be automatically operated in timed relation with a carrier operating mechanism, through a working cycle and stopped when retracted so as to be in a position ready to be actuated through the next pushing operation.

Other features and details of the invention are 35 set forth hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the pushing device constituting the present invention in combination with a rolling mill and sheet carrier of the character disclosedin the co-pending United States application of William J. Crowley, bearing Ser. No. 555,572, filed August 6, 1931; and

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the disclosure in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and also to the previously identified copending application, reference numeral 1 designates the housings of a rolling mill, the upper and lower rolls of which are indicated as 2 and 3 respectively.

A rack 4 is fixed at the rear of the rolls to receive a sheet bar after the same emerges from the pass between the aforementioned rolls 2 and 3, respectively. A base 4a. is provided to support the catcher or peel and an electric motor 11 is mounted at one side thereof. A pinion 11a is mounted 1933, Serial No. tsosss on the motor shaft and meshes with a gear 12, mounted on a shaft 1211, the other end of which is operatively connected todrive a shaft 81) which in turn drives a sprocket wheel 8 about which passes one of the main chains 6. At the opposite up side of the machine is a similar chain 7 which passes about a sprocket wheel 8a also driven from the shaft 8b. Each of the chains 7 and 6 pass around a number of sprocket wheels 9 and 9a, respectively, journaled in bearing plates 10, 10, the 5 former being so positioned with respect to the sprockets 9a on which the chain 7 rides so that the latter chain extends beyond the chain 6 as shown in Fig. 2.

A peel 13 is secured to the chains 6 and 7 and 79 comprises a plurality of spaced horizontal bars 14 which project in the direction of the mill 1, the said bars 14 being arranged to pass intermediate the bars of the rack 4 and lift a sheet bar upwardly therefrom. In thepresent instance the peel 13 75 is connected to the chains 6 and 7 by means of pivots which are so secured to the said chains as to insure their axes remaining in a parallel relation perpendicular to the planes of the respective chains to prevent tilting of said peel and maintain 5, the same substantially horizontal. By arranging the two main chains 6 and '7 in the manner shown and driving them continuously in one direction by means of the motor 11, the peel is carried into position to receive a sheet bar from the rack 4 as 35 it is passed between the rolls 2 and 3 of the mill, and by offsetting certain of the sprocket guide wheels 9 and 9a, said peel is backed oiT so as to clear the upper roll 2 while moving upwards, and

is then moved forward due to the position of the g uppermost forward sprocket wheels 9 and 9a of each chain, the peel being projected forwardly so as to be above the rolls in position for the discharge of the sheet bar from the rack 4 over the upper roll to the front of the mill. The peel is then carried by the chains backwards to the extreme end of the machine and moved to the lower level, whence it is againbrought forward into position to lift a sheet bar again from the rack 5, after the pass between the rolls.

As the peel or peels 13 move successively into position over the rolls of the mill as previouslydescribed, the device constituting the present invention is actuated to push or shove the sheet carried by the peel 5 over the top or upper roll 2 to the front of the mill 1. This pushing device in the present instance, and in its preferred embodiment, comprises a cross head 15 slidably mounted in groove runners 16 on the upper surface of a plate 1'7 which is supported above the peel driv- 5 ing mechanism by means of struts or supports 18 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Extending horizontally from the cross head 15 in the direction of the rolling mill 1 are a plurality of pusher finger supports 19 secured at their inner ends to the said cross head 15 and reinforcedly supported thereon by means of webs 20, the said supports 19 being suitably positioned upon the cross head 15 so as to be located. above and in alignment with the space between the horizontal bars 14 of the carrier or peel 5. A finger 21 is mounted at the end of each of the horizontal supports 19 and extends vertically downward between certain of the spaced peel or carrier bars 14 as shown in the drawings.

The sheet pusher in the present instance is operated by means of an electric motor 22 which is connected through gears 23, 24, 25 and 26 to rotate a crank shaft 27 having a crank arm 28 mounted thereon. A yoke 29 is connected between the crank arm 28 and the cross head 15 of the pusher and it will be understood that when the motor 22 is started, rotation of the crank shaft 27 and the crank 28 acts to reciprocate the cross head 15 and the pusher fingers carried thereby, back and forth in the grooved runners 16 which results in a relative movement of the fingers 21 in the spaces between the carrier bars 14 of the carrier 5.

The motor 22 may be started and stopped manually when it is desired to push a sheet from a carrier or peel over the upper roll 2 of the mill 1, but it is preferable, however, that the control for starting and stopping the operation of the pusher motor 22 be operated in timed relation with the control mechanism of the carrier motor. This may be accomplished by means of relays in. an electric circuit common to both the carrier and pusher actuating means contained in a control box 30 and will constitute the subject matter of a subsequent application. When automatically controlled in this manner, the motor 22 actuates the present device to push a sheet from the carrier as each moves into a position over or above the upper roll 2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.

1 of the drawings and subsequently to stop furthermovernent of the device when the same has been retracted, until the next succeeding peel assumes or approaches the position just described over the upper roll 2 of the mill.

While the present invention has been described and disclosed in combination with a carrier or peel of the particular character set forth in the co-pending application previously identified, it is not intended that the same be limited to the specific structure shown, but certain modifications and changes thereof may be made to render the present device adaptable for use in conjunction with carriers or peels of diiferent design and modus operandi without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rolling mill the combination with upper and lower rolls, of spaced bearing members, endless chains supported thereby, means for driving said chains continuously in one direction, bars carried by said chains arranged to receive a sheet from the path of the rolls and lift same to a point above the upper roll, a horizontal support mounted above said bearing members, guide means thereon, means slidable in said guide means toward and away from said rolls, means mounted on 'said last mentioned means arranged to extend between the sheet lifting bars when above the upper roll, and means also mounted on the support operable in timed relation with said chain driving means to actuate the slidable means to push the sheet from the carrier bars when the latter are in a position above the upper roll.

2. In a rolling mill the combination with upper and lower rolls, of spaced parallel bearing members at one side of said rolls, endless chains supported thereby, means for driving said chains continuously in one direction, bars carried by said chains arranged to receive a sheetfrom the path of the rolls and lift same to a point above the upper roll, a horizontal support mounted above said bearing members, guide means thereon, means slidable in said guide means arranged to extend between the bars when above the upper roll, and means also mounted on the support operable in timed relation with said chain driving means to actuate said slidable means tov push the sheet from said bars when above the upper roll.

3. In a rolling mill the combination with upper and lower rolls, of parallel bearing members at one side thereof, endless chains supported by said bearings, a, peel carried by said chains, means for driving said chains so that said peel .will receive a sheet from the pathof the. rolls and lift the same to. a point above the upper roll, a horizontal support mounted upon the upper end of said bearings, guide means thereon, means slidable in said guide, and arranged to extend through the peel when above, the upper roll, and means also mounted on the support operablein timedrelation with said chain .drive means to actuate said last mentioned meansto push the Sheet from said peel when abovev said upper roll.

4. In a rolling. mill the combination with upper and lower rolls, of bearings at one side thereof, endless chains supportedby said bearings, av peel carried by said chains, means for driving said chains so. that said peel will receive a sheet from the path .of the rolls and lift the same to a point above the upper roll, a supporting structure mounted upon the bearings, and means slidable on said supporting structurein timed relation with said chain :drive means to engage and push the sheet from the peel when the latter is above the upper roll.

5, In a .rclling mill the combination with upper and lower rolls, of bearings at one side thereof, endless chains supported by said bearings, a, peel carried by saidchains, means for driving said chains so, that said peel will receive a sheet from the path of the rolls and lift the same to a point above the pper roll, a support, means for mounting saidsupport upon the bearings, and means slidableonthesupport in timedrelation with the chain drive means to engage and push the sheet from the, peel when the latteris above the upper roll.

' WILLIAM JOHNCROWLEY. 

